Water-tube boiler



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented July 2, 1889.

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J. TAYLOR.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

Patented July Z, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.]

J. TAYLOR. WATER TUBE BOILER.

No. 406,376. Patented July 2, 1889.

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NrTnn STATES ATnNTJ OFFICE.

JOHN TAYLOR, OF TROY, NEV YORK.

WATER-TUBE BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,376, dated July 2, 1889. s Application lef. June 2, 1888. Serial No. 275,900. (No model.)

To all whom t may concer/1L:

Be it known that 1, JOHN TAYLOR, a resident of the city of YTroy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in V'ater-Tube Boilers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference bein ghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several iigures therein.

My invention relates to improvements in water-tube boilers; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical longitudinal section of the boiler. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the boiler, partly in section, on the broken line y in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the boiler, partly in section, on the broken line in Fig, 1. Fig. 4 represents in elevation, viewed exteriorly, a portion of one of the boiler-supporting water-legs, showing hand-holes and ends of retaining-rivets. This and all the remaining gures are drawn upon a scale larger than that employed in the three iirst figures. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the part shown in Fig. 4, taken on the broken line inthat figure, and representing a hand-hole plate in longitudinal section. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a tlame-detlector, showing the nipple-connections and in section two water-tubes. Fig. 7 is avertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 6, taken on the broken linetheren, and showing a water-tube passing through the connecting-thimbles. Fig. Sis a view in side elevation of the upper end of defiector B2. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the part shown in Fig. 8, taken on the broken line x in that figure, showing a water-tube expanded into one of the detlector-plates and representing a handhole plate in cross-section. Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section of the steam-tube, taken on the broken line z, and showing the ends of the nipples connectingit with one of the plates of the rear leg. Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal section of the tube shown in Fig. 10, taken on broken linea@ and detached from the leg. Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of Fig. 11, showing modified form of head for the steam-tube. Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of the leg-supporting truck with the leg detached. Fig. 14 is a vertical crosssection of same, taken on the broken line :c in Fig. 13, and showing the lower part of the leg-plates attached. Fig. 15 is an exterior View (plan) of a hand-hole plate detached. Fig. 16 is a vert-ical cross-section of same, taken at the broken line c in Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the left-hand end of the hand-hole plate, as shown in Fig. 16, bearing against lead packing interposed between it and the main plate in which the hand-hole is made. Fig. 18 represents a slightly-modified form of the device shown in Fig. 17.

The boiler is supported upon suitable foundations A by the front leg B, rear leg B', and fiame-defiectors B2 and B3, the latter being supported by the inclosing side Walls A and the former taking the place of t-he usual bridge-wall. The front leg and deiiector B2 serve to support a fuel-grate A2, which may be constructed in any well-known manner and provided with the usual doors A3 and A4, closing openings through the front leg. The legs and deectors are each made of rolled metallic plates, preferably steel7 riveted to each other in pairs, as hereinafter fully described, to form a water-tight chamber.

The water-tubes C lead from the Waterchamber in one leg to that in the other, the ends of the tubes being inserted through receiving-apertures in the inner plates forming the legs and expanded therein to make a lwater-tight joint.

The deflectors are provided with short thimbles O, the ends of which are expanded in receiving-apertures in the respective plates to make a water-tight joint. The thimbles have an inner diameter slightly exceeding the outer diameter of the water-tubes, so that the tubes can be easily passed through them and secured in the legs, as shown in Fig. 1.

The apertures in the legs which receive the ends of the tubes are preferably arranged in quincunX order, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so

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that the individual tubes in cach successive horizontal row are above the spaces between the individual tubes in the row beneath, thus causing the flames and heated gases to take a zigzag course in passing through the rows of tubes.

The boiler is supplied with water at three inlets D, one in the lower end ot' the rear leg and one in the lower end of each ot the dellectors.

The il ames and heated gases travel from the grate in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1, up over the dellector 22, beneath the detlector B3, and out over the top et the rear leg.

It is evident that a great amount of heat is communicated to the water inclosed in the chambers in the legs and detlectors. The heated water expands and rises in the rear leg to the tubes C, and the latter being inclined, as shown, the water continues to rise and circulate upwardly ot' the tubes until itI passes over the grate and into the front leg, then up the latter and into the tube C2, when it begins to vaporize and passes into and along the upper end of the rear leg, and thence as steam into the steam-tube U3, along which it travels over the grate again to the superheatin g steam-drum C, when it is ready for use.

A comparatively small amount ol:l water is admitted to the bottoms of the dellectors to keep the metal from becoming excessively hot, and to utilize the heat absorbed by the metal. The water in detlector B3 circulates to the upper end and through tubes CAL into the upper end of the rear leg, where it vaporizes, while that entering deflecter l52 circulates through tubes C5 into the front leg and mingles with that emitted from tubes C.

I am well aware that inclined legs provided with water-chai'nbers have been connected by inclined water-tubes passing over the grate and leading to a steam drinn or dome, but the legs were made up of cast-iron boxes laid one upon another and connected by nipples, the tubes being made of rolled or drawn metal, and experience shows that the unequal expansion of the wrought and cast metals makes it impossible to constru ct a durable water-tube boiler with the legs formed et cast-iron.

My improvement consists in making the legs, as well as the detlectors, of rolled or wrought metal platesthat is, et a metal substantially homogeneous with that of the tubes-and in the details ot construction which will now be more 'fully described.

As will be seen by reference to Fi at and 5, the legs are made up ot the two plates a and b, which are held together by numerous rivets cl. These rivets pass through sleeves d', the ends of which form shoulders serving to keep the plates separate from each other the required distance, while the rivets are headed down and prevent the plates from spreading. The rivets may be threaded their whole length, as shown in Fie'. t), and inserted through correspondin gl y-threaded apertures in the plates, thereby preventing any movement ot' the plates relatively to each other.

Itis preferable to insert and expand the water-tubes in one plate of the legs after the. legs are formed, and I provide hand-holes a in the outer plates, each hand-hole being cut obliquely in order to render two of the tube ends accessible through one hole. By means of these hand-holes I not only render accessible the ends ofthe tubes for expanding, but for cleaning' and inspection, as well as removal. 'lhe hand-holes are covered by a hand-hole plate a2, resting upon the inner side of the edge walls of the plate surrounding the handhole, as shown in Figs. 5 and t). The heads of the bolts ai, inserted at d", are slid to the ends of slot a5 and the stems inserted through the bolt-holes in saddle a, the ends of which rest upon the outer side ot' the plate, and nuts ai, turned upon the threaded ends of the bolts to draw the hand-hole plates closely against the leg-plates. I prefer to provide the edge of the hand-hole plates with one or more grooves as in and along its ['ace edge to receive and retain in position a soft-metal pack ing a, which may be a ring made in thelorm of the plate and pressed between the two plates, as shown in Figs. i7 and 1S.

No particular forni or number oll as is required. I have shown two grooves in Fig. 17 and two curved Fig. 1S.

Inv Figs. G and 7 I have shown 011 enlarged scale the method ot' forming the del'lectors. They are composed ot two plates, the saine as the legs, and secured together in substantially the same manner, except that the thimbles C serve to strengthen and keep the plates from spreading. The plates a and l) are secured together at their edges by flanged strips ll', which maybe riveted to the edges of the plates, as shown at rivet 112, or welded thereto, as shown at lf in Figs. 7 and It will be seen by reference to Fig. l thatIhave provided hand-htdes opposite every tube end, which permits of ample facilities for cleaning or repairing the pipes, as well as a more perfect expansion ot the joints during the process of construction. I show a horizontal hand-hole opposite the thimbles C, which connect thc rear leg with the steam-pipe C, as shown in Fig. l. p

I have shown on larger scale in Figs. 10, ll, and l2 the method of connecting the rear leg with the steam-pipe. "lwo short nipples C are Afirst expanded at one end lin the head (lT of the steam-pipe, and then the other ends, which project from the head ot' the steampipe, are inserted in their receiving-apertures in the leg-plate l) and expanded through the opposite hand-hole in the upper end of plate a ot' the rear leg. The head ot' the steampipe may be inserted in any well-kn own manner. In Fig. ll I have shown it welded in without any angular ilange, and in Fig. l2 provided with an angular ,tlauge turned both inwardly amlvoutwardly. The steam-pipe C grooves angular ones in IIC may be secured to the steam-drum CS in substantially the same manner as the rear leg, as shown in Fig. l. rl`he rearleg is supported by a truck resting upon the foundation-plate g, which permits the leg to travel back and forth as the water-tubes expand and contract. Any well-known form of truck may be einployed; but as this movement is very small I prefer a simple roller g', resting upon the plate g, and supporting on its upper surface the truck-frame g2, supporting' the leg-plates, substantially as shown. The roller is prevented from getting out of place by the lugs g3 on the truck-frame, which straddle the roller and diverge from each other sufficiently t0 permit of a slight rolling movement of the roller on the truck-frame The man-holes F in the side wall of the boiler-inclosure render all parts of theinterior easily accessible for cleaning and repairs.

The plates forming the water-chamber in the rear leg are, one or both of them, bent at their lower end, so as to diverge from each other and form an enlarged space,which serves to collect the refuse matter, and may be called the mud-chamber.7 In the outer plate, which forms this enlargement, are provided a hand-hole through which the mud-chamber is rendered accessible, as shown, for the purpose of cleaning.

In a boiler having a series ot water-tubes grouped together directly over the boilerheating lire l am able, with very little or no expense, to easily and positively eliminate the element of danger due to explosion. l simply make one or more of the water-tubes, preferably located centrally of the lower part of the group ot tubes composing the boiler, weaker than the others. The weaker tubes are tested to resist a greater pressure than that required in the normal use of the boiler, while all the other water and steam tubes, pipes, and drum, are tested to resist a still greater pressure. It is obvious, therefore, that if the pressure in any part of the boiler should for any reason exceed the resisting capacity of the latter it would yield at the weakest point-viz., the weaker water-tube, located immediately over the tire. As the tubes so located are always filled with water, and comparatively cold water, only water could escape which would quickly put out or deaden the fire, and thus reduce the steampressure of the boiler and keep it below the danger-point, with little or no damage except to destroya single water-tube and extinguish the fire under the boiler.

By locating the weak tube in that part of the boiler directly above the grate and over the tire, in event of the bursting of said tube, water is admitted into the tire-box and thus extinguishes the fire.

l/Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A water-tube steam-boiler consisting of a group of inclined water-tubes, a sin gle waterchamber at cach end ot' the group,into which and grate and boiler supporting in closure, and

a iiaine-deilector extending transversely of the group of water-tubes, consisting ot sheets of wrought metal united at their edges to form a single water-chamber having a lower supply and upper discharge pipe and centrally crossstayed and provided with, tube -receiving thimbles passing' transversely through the chamber, substantially as described.

2. ln a water-tube boiler, the combination, with inclined water-tubes supported at their ends by front and rear legs, of a iiame-deiector consisting of metal plates secured together to form a water-chamber by tube-receiving thimbles passing through the chamber, inlet water-connections leading tov the water-chamber ot the deliector, and outletconnections leading to the steam-pipe,sub stantially as described.

3. In a water-tu be boiler having a front and rear water-chamber leg and a superheated steam-drum, a steam-tube having solid welded heads, and expanded nipple-connections by which one end of the tube is connected with one of the leg-chambers and the other end with the steam-drum, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the front and rear water-legs, the water-tubes connecting the same, and the hollow water-containing Harnedeiiector between said legs, with the steamdrum located between the front leg and deiector, above the grate, and communicating only with the rear water-leg, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the front and rearwater-legs, the intermediate hollow waterholding -ilame-deiiector, and the grate supported on said detlector and front leg, with the inclined water-tu bes connecting' the front and rear legs and passing through the deector, but not communicating therewith, substantially as speciied.

6. 4The combination ot the front and rear water-legs and the intermediate water-chamber fiame-deiiectors, with the water-tubes connecting said legs and passing through the upper portion of one detlector and through the lower portion of the opposite deiiector, but not communicating with either, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination of the stationary front water-leg and the rear water-leg having an enlarged mud-chamber at bottom and mounted on a movable support, with the watertubes connecting said legs, the iiame-detlector, the steam-drum located between the front leg and deiiector, and the connections IIO between said drum and rear water-leg, substantially as speciied.

S. In a boiler, a water-circulating tube located above the grate and in the water-space of the boiler and formed to be of less strength than the other parts of the boiler, whereby it will break when subjected to undue steanr pressure without danger or injury to other portions of the boiler, substantially as and lor the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of the 'front and rear water-legs and the intermediate hollow water-holding detlectors provid ed with horizontal hand-holes at their upper ends, with the tubes connecting the said detlectors respcctively with the front and rear legs at points opposite said hand-holes, and the water-tubes connecting the front and rear legs and passing through the deflectors, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

lO. The combination of the front and rear water-legs, the intermediate water-holding deileetors, the water-tubes connecting said legs and passing through said deectors, but not communicating therewith, with the steamtubes leading from the deiiectors and front leg to the top portion of the rear leg, and the steam drum and pipe located above the de- 'lcctors and tubes and connnunicating with the top of the rear water-leg also, all substantially as set forth.

1l. The combination, in a tubular boiler, of the water-legs and steam-drum, with a fragile water-tube located above the grate and conneeting the waterlegs of the boiler and constructed to be of less tensile strength than the remaining tubes, for the purpose and substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of the front and rear water-legs and the intermediate water-containing del'leetors with the water-tubes conncctin the legs, bntnot coiniminicating with the detleetors, the tubes connecting said deiieetors respectively with the front and rear legs, and the steam-drum communicating solely with the rearleg, substantially as specitied.

13. A hollow water-leg for tubular boilers, having its inner plate perforated in staggered order for the reecptionot the ends of the water-tubes and its outer plate provided with oblique hand-holes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ll. The combination of the front water-leg, the rear water-leg having an enlarged mudchamber at bottoni and resting on a movable support, the water-chamber deiiectors between said legs, the water tubes passing through and not communicating with said detl ectors and connecting the front and rear legs, the water-supply pipes to said legs and deiiectors, the steam-drum located between the front legs and deflector above the grate, the steam-tube connecting said drum with the rear leg, and the steam-connections between said legs and deflectors, all substantially as set forth.

l5. A water-leg for tubular boilers, coniposed of wrought-metal plates riveted together to form water-tight chambers, the inner plate having openings in it for the reception of the water-tube ends made in staggered order, and the outer plate having oblique hand-holes opposite a pair of openings inthe inner plate, in combination with the obliquely-arranged hand-plates closing said holes, all substantially as specified.

`In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day et' May, 1888.

JOHN TAYLOR.

lVitnesses:

Gno. A. llhisnnn, (liras. L. ALBEN. 

